Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls wrestling programs finished fifth and eighth, respectively, at the Sac-Joaquin Section Southern Regional Championships this past week in Ceres.

The Bulldogs and host Hawks posted team scores of 119.5 and 98, respectively.

“That’s the best we’ve done there,” Ceres High leader Curtis Hulstine stated. “It shows the improvement of our program as a whole.”

The Bulldogs and Hawks had a combined nine grapplers qualify for Masters.

Ceres High’s Elizabeth Boyd, Dayanna Alvarez, Mezmeriah Zuniga, Abigail Schultz and Avril Gaona, and Central Valley’s Alicia Espinoza, Giana Breshears, Micaela Maldonado and Vanesa Mendoza Balbuena accomplished that feat by finishing in the top eight in their respective weight divisions at South Regionals.

“That’s a program-high as well,” Hulstine said while about seeing five of Ceres High’s wrestlers advance to Masters. “The girls are working really hard.”

Boyd was Ceres High’s top finisher.

She placed a career-best second overall at 235 pounds.

Boyd posted a 3-1 record.

“She’s in a new weight class and trying to figure things out,” Hulstine said. “She’s excelled every week.”

Alvarez placed third at 120 pounds.

She posted a 4-1 record.

Zuniga placed fourth at 135 pounds.

She posted a 4-2 record.

Schultz placed fourth at 130 pounds.

She posted a 3-2 record.

Gaona placed seventh at 100 pounds.

She posted a 3-2 record.

The Hawks had two individual champions in Espinoza and Breshears.

Espinoza claimed the 235-pound title.

She posted a 3-0 record.

Breshears claimed the 135-pound title

She posted a 4-0 record.

Maldonado placed third at 190 pounds.

She posted a 4-1 record.

Mendoza Balbuena placed eighth at 145 pounds.

She posted a 1-3 record.

Ceres High’s Sharon Wheeling, Amelie Franco, Camila Alfaro, Gabriella Cole and Yeraldi Alvarez, and Central Valley’s Leslie Hernandez, Evalyn Zambrano, Mekenzie Buenrostro, Joselyn Alvarez and Addisyn Prudhel had their seasons cut short at South Regionals.

Wheeling placed ninth at 125 pounds.

She posted a 4-2 record.

Franco, Alfaro and Cole placed 10th at 145, 140 and 105 pounds, respectively.

Franco posted a 1-3 record.

Alfaro posted a 2-3 record.

Cole posted a 2-3 record.

Yeraldi Alvarez posted a 1-2 record.

Hernandez, Zambrano, Buenrostro and Joselyn Alvarez placed 10th at 170, 130, 115 and 100 pounds, respectively.

Hernandez posted a 2-3 record.

Zambrano posted a 2-3 record.

Buenrostro posted a 3-3 record.

Alvarez posted a 2-3 record.

Prudhel posted an 0-2 record at 140 pounds.